The bottom line
August 12th, 2008
Yesterday, Jamie posted his self-described rant about the new strategic planning article in the Journal of Association Leadership. I’m really glad that Jamie wrote that post because it saved me from having to do it. I think everyone already knows where I stand on this topic, but just in case, let me reiterate the bottom line:
Tomorrow will not be like yesterday.
All the so-called “consensus guidelines” in the world can’t change this simple fact. Strategic planning is over…done…finished because tomorrow will not be like yesterday. This conversation is no longer about configuring strategic planning in new ways to “make it work.” We will never, ever, ever embrace the revolution and create 21st century associations through strategic planning. I can’t make it any plainer. It’s time to move on.
As I wrote in my recent post for association CEOs, we “must strive to design strategy-making as a whole system collaborative learning process to which everyone can make a direct and meaningful contribution from anywhere.” Strategy-making is about fostering creativity and unleashing the imagination. It’s about wide-ranging exploration, continuous discovery and collaborative innovation. These are the ways of thinking and being we must cultivate in our organizations to ensure our long-term vitality and success.
Because tomorrow will not be like yesterday.
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